Eagles Enjoy Early Lead, but Can’t Hold on Against Air Force

For the second time in three days, the Eastern Washington University women's soccer team grabbed an early lead, but then let it slip away in the second half, as the Eags dropped a 3-2 decision to Air force on Sunday (Aug. 28) at the 2011 Bronco Invite in Boise, Idaho.

With the loss, Eastern falls to 0-4-0 on the season. The Eagles will look for their first win of the season when they return to Cheney for the 2011 home opener on Sunday (Sept. 4) against Wyoming.

Just one minute after kickoff in Boise, freshman Cassie Black netted Eastern's first goal thanks to an advantageous setup by sophomore Siara Byers and senior Whitney Brannan. The goal was Black's second on the weekend, but the rookie from Battle Ground, Wash wasn't done yet.

Five minutes later, from ten yards out, Black beat Falcon goalkeeper Hallie Koeppen on the right side and slipped the ball to the back of the net to give the Eagles a commanding 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately, the two-goal cushion didn't last long. Air Force's Stephanie Patterson scored on a goal at the 11:38 mark off an assist from Bridgett Murphy. The ball got by junior goalkeeper Jamie Walker, who played the first half of Sunday's contest, allowing one goal and collecting two saves.

After the halftime break, Patterson scored again to tie the game at 2-2 when she put one in from 20 yards out against Eastern's freshman goalkeeper Nathalie Schwery.

The game winner for Air Force came in the 71st minute, as freshman McKenna Fox, the Falcons leading scorer, notched her fourth tally of the season off another assist from Murphy.

Despite giving up two goals, Schwery had arguably the best game of her young Eagle career, collecting seven total saves in the second half.

Eastern held an 11-5 advantage in shots in the first half, but the team in red and white was out-shot 13-3 in the second.